
Is pain getting in the way of some of your favorite activities? Morning yoga, evening walks with your spouse, driving on a road trip, or even making dinner can be difficult when your back, neck, or shoulders start to ache with pain. If you're ready to try a different — holistic approach to pain management — talk to your chiropractor or acupuncturist about adding class IV cold laser therapy to your treatment plan.
Cold lasers are small devices that clinicians place over sore, injured areas. These lasers are about the size of a flashlight, and usually held for a few seconds or minutes over the treatment site. Based on your specific condition, your doctor may recommend and create a cold laser treatment plan. The treatment frequency recommended may vary based on the size of the area in pain, underlying health factors, and your health goals. Here is an example of a recommended plan: cold laser therapy two to three times per week for four to six weeks.
Cold lasers are a low level laser. The laser emits very low levels of light, which means it doesn’t heat your body’s tissue. The light passes through the different layers of your skin and fat tissue. Once the light reaches the target area, the mitochondria in your body's cells absorb the light. Then, they convert it into usable energy. By targeting the mitochondria (the mitochondrion is also known as the powerhouse of a cell), the laser light increases the energy available to the cell so it can absorb nutrients faster and eliminate waste. This process is called intracellular metabolism, and it helps heal injured tissue. The process is similar to photosynthesis, in which plants absorb light and as a result, their cells are able to grow.
Class IV therapeutic cold lasers utilize a higher frequency than other cold lasers, and they ultimately provide the same results. However, patients who receive class IV laser treatment see results much faster than patients who receive lower frequency level cold laser therapy. Cold lasers provide no feeling or sensation, but class IV laser therapy gives off a warm, soothing feeling. Class IV lasers are also more powerful than other cold lasers. This means they can penetrate deeper into the body to reach painful spots.
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If you want to take advantage class IV cold laser therapy, consult with your chiropractor or acupuncturist. For those who live near southwest Missouri, give Loehr Chiropractic & Acupuncture a call at 417-887-8075. Through combining class IV laser therapy with massage, chiropractic care, and acupuncture, it's our goal to help our patients achieve a pain-free lifestyle. Our doctors are constantly working to refine and expand their abilities with additional advanced training. We’re here to help you live naturally and comfortably.